Exercise device for rowing motion simulation

ABSTRACT

An exercise device includes a base, a seat assembly mounted on the base, a load mechanism attached to an upright and including a take-up assembly and a flywheel coaxially secured to the take-up assembly, a first rowing unit configured to activate the load mechanism by pulling a spring activated strap, and a second rowing unit configured to activate both the load mechanism and the first rowing unit by pulling the strap and pivotably rotating a handle via a cord which is operatively connected to a pivotal arm on the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly to an exercise device for simulating rowing motion by implementing a first exercise mode of operating a first rowing unit or a second exercise mode of operating a second rowing unit.

2. Description of Related Art

Watercraft sports involving a person to propel a watercraft (e.g., small boat) through a river or lake are popular outdoor activities. Conventionally, an exerciser is designed to simulate a single rowing motion. This means that a user has to buy two different types of such exerciser for rowing training purpose. Thus, it is desirable of providing an exerciser for simulating two different types of rowing motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an exercise device comprising a base, a seat assembly mounted on the base, a load mechanism, a first rowing unit configured to activate the load mechanism, and a second rowing unit configured to activate both the load mechanism and the first rowing unit wherein the base includes a longitudinal tube, a front upright, a support disposed rearward of the upright, an arm pivotably secured to a lower portion of the support and being perpendicular to the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller elements mounted on the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller members mounted in the support, and a plurality of rollers mounted in the arm; the seat assembly includes an upward inclined seat tube above the longitudinal tube, the seat tube having a front end mounted on an intermediate portion of the longitudinal tube, two spaced foot plates pivotably secured to two sides of the front end of the seat tube respectively, an inclined leg secured to a rear end of the seat tube, and a seat moveably mounted on the seat tube; the load mechanism is attached to the upright and includes a take-up assembly and a flywheel coaxially secured to the take-up assembly wherein the take-up assembly is configured to rotate the flywheel in one direction; the first rowing unit includes an strap having a first end disposed externally of the support, and a handlebar secured to the first end of the strap wherein the strap passes through the roller members, the rollers, and one of the roller elements secure to and roll on the take-up assembly; and the second rowing unit includes a cord, two spaced tunnel members, a handle, and a connection member wherein the cord has a first end attached to a top of the arm and a second end passing through the roller elements to attach to a first end of the connection member, a second end of the connection member frictionally puts on a portion of the handle between the tunnel members, and the handle includes a pivotal portion pivotably passing through the tunnel members, and two opposite grasping members disposed on two sides of the longitudinal tube respectively.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the front portion of the exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view in part section of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the seat and adjacent components of the second rowing unit

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the exercise device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 6 showing first and second exercise modes by operating the first and second rowing units respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, an exercise device in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A base 1, a seat assembly 2 mounted on the base 2, a load mechanism 3, a first rowing unit 4, and a second rowing unit 5 are provided. The base 2 includes a legged, longitudinal tube 11, a front upright 12, a support 13 disposed rearward of the upright 12, an arm 14 pivotably secured to a lower portion of the support 13 and being perpendicular to the tube 11 in an inoperative position, a plurality of rollers (as detailed later), and two hooks 131 mounted on an inclined upper portion of the support 13. Each of the support 13 and the arm 14 has an n-shaped cross-section. The rollers includes first, second, and third roller elements 111, 112, and 113 mounted on a top surface of the tube 11; first, second, third, and fourth roller members 132, 133, 134, and 135 mounted in the support 13; and first, second, and third rollers 141, 142, and 143. The hooks 131 are disposed between the first roller member 132 and the second roller member 133.

The seat assembly 2 includes an upward inclined seat tube 21 above the tube 11 and having a front end mounted on an intermediate portion of the tube 11, two spaced foot plates 221, 222 pivotably secured to two sides of the front end of the seat tube 21, an inclined leg 23 secured to a rear end of the seat tube 12, and a seat 24 moveably mounted on the seat tube 21. The load mechanism 3 is attached to a rear surface of the upright 12 and includes a take-up assembly 31 and a flywheel 32 coaxially secured to the take-up assembly 31. The take-up assembly 31 may rotate the flywheel 32 in only one direction. The flywheel 32 is either an electromagnetic flywheel or a damping flywheel both are known in the art. The take-up assembly 31 is a well known device and includes a housing 311, a hollow projection 312 integrally formed with one side of the housing 311, a volute spring 313 in the housing 311, a bearing 314 in the hollow projection 312 and attached to the flywheel 32, and an axle 315 in the housing 311 and passing into the bearing 314 so that the axle 315, the bearing 314, and the flywheel 32 may co-rotate.

The first rowing unit 4 includes a handlebar 41 and an strap 42 passing through the first and second roller members 132, 133, the first roller 141, the third roller member 134, the second roller 142, the fourth roller member 135, the third roller 143, and the first roller element 111 to secure to and roll on the hollow projection 312. An open end of the strap 42 is secured to an intermediate portion of the handlebar 41. The flywheel 32 pulls the strap 42 so that the handlebar 41 is urged against the hooks 131 in an inoperative position. Further, the arm 14 is pulled to pivot to an upright position engaging intermediate and lower portions of the support 13. The second rowing unit 5 includes a cord 51 made of steel, two spaced tunnel members 52 and 53, a U-shaped handle 54, and a connection member 55. The cord 51 has one end attached to a top surface of the arm 14 and the other end passing through the first and third roller elements 112, 113 to attach to one end of the connection member 55 which has the other end loosely put on a portion of the handle 54 between the tunnel members 52 and 53. The handle 54 includes a pivotal portion 541 pivotably passing through the tunnel members 52 and 53, and two opposite grasping members 542, 543 disposed on two sides of the tube 11 respectively. Further, the grasping members 542, 543 are proximate to the foot plates 221, 222 respectively.

An individual may sit on the seat 24 and have two feet resting upon the foot plates 221, 222 respectively prior to exercising.

As shown in FIG. 7 specifically, operating the first rowing unit 4 for exercise involves the following steps: The individual may unfasten the strap 42 and use two hands to hold two ends of the handlebar 41 respectively. Next, the Individual uses the feet to urge against the foot plates 221, 222 and pulls the strap 42 so that the seat 24 may move away from the foot plates 221 along the seat tube 2 (i.e., moving rearward). At the same time, the take-up assembly 31 is rotated by the pulling strap 42. Thus, the hollow projection 312 rotates to cause the coils of the volute spring 313 to slide over each other, i.e., being compressed to store elastic energy. Also, the bearing 314 rotates to rotate the flywheel 32. The Individual has to exert a great force to achieve above steps. The Individual may stop exerting the pulling force on the handlebar 41 when the pulling of the strap 42 reaches its limit. And in turn, the strap 42 pulls back to its inoperative position due to the release of the stored elastic force of the volute spring 313. Thus, the strap 42 rolls on the hollow projection 312 until the handlebar 41 is stopped by the support 13 (i.e., returned to its inoperative position). The above pulling and drawing back steps of the strap 42 can be repeated a desired number of times by the Individual. As a result, the purpose of exercise is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 8 specifically, operating the second rowing unit 5 for exercise involves the following steps: The individual may use two hands to hold the grasping members 542, 543 respectively. Next, the Individual uses the feet to urge against the foot plates 221, 222 and clockwise pivots the grasping members 542, 543 so that the seat 24 may move away from the foot plates 221 along the seat tube 2 (i.e., moving rearward). At the same time, the pivotal portion 541 pivots about the tunnels members 52, 53. Further, the connection member 55 moves rearward to pull the cord 51. And in turn, the arm 14 may clockwise pivot about the support 13 to pull the strap 42. The take-up assembly 31 is rotated by the pulling strap 42. Thus, the hollow projection 312 rotates to cause the coils of the volute spring 313 to slide over each other, i.e., being compressed to store elastic energy. Also, the bearing 314 rotates to rotate the flywheel 32. The Individual has to exert a great force to achieve above steps. The Individual may stop exerting the pivoting force on the grasping members 542, 543 when the pivotal movement of the grasping members 542, 543 reaches its limit. And in turn, the strap 42 pulls back to its inoperative position due to the release of the stored elastic force of the volute spring 313. Thus, the strap 42 rolls on the hollow projection 312 until the arm 14 is stopped by the support 13 and the grasping members 542, 543 returns to its inoperative position. The above pivotal movement of the grasping members 542, 543, and the pulling and drawing back steps of the strap 42 can be repeated a desired number of times by the Individual. As a result, the purpose of exercise is achieved.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device comprising a base, a seat assembly mounted on the base, a load mechanism, a first rowing unit configured to activate the load mechanism, and a second rowing unit configured to activate both the load mechanism and the first rowing unit wherein: the base includes a longitudinal tube, a front upright, a support disposed rearward of the front upright, an arm pivotably secured to a lower portion of the support and being perpendicular to the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller elements mounted on the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller members mounted in the support, and a plurality of rollers mounted in the arm; the seat assembly includes a seat tube above the longitudinal tube, the seat tube having a front end mounted on an intermediate portion of the longitudinal tube, two spaced foot plates pivotably secured to two sides of the front end of the seat tube respectively, a leg secured to a rear end of the seat tube, and a seat moveably mounted on the seat tube; the load mechanism is attached to the front upright and includes a take-up assembly and a flywheel coaxially secured to the take-up assembly, wherein the take-up assembly is configured to rotate the flywheel in one direction; the first rowing unit includes a strap having a first end disposed external to the support, and a handlebar secured to the first end of the strap, wherein the strap passes through the roller members, the rollers, and one of the roller elements to secure to and roll on the take-up assembly; and the second rowing unit includes a cord, a tunnel assembly, a handle, and a connection member wherein the cord has a first end attached to the arm and a second end passing through the roller elements to attach to the connection member, a second end of the connection member engaging a portion of the handle adjacent to the tunnel assembly, and the handle includes a pivotal portion pivotably passing through the tunnel assembly, and two opposite grasping members disposed on two sides of the longitudinal tube, respectively.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the roller elements include first, second, and third roller elements mounted on the longitudinal tube, the roller members are mounted in the support, and the rollers are mounted in the ann.
 3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the strap passes through the first and second roller members, the first roller, the third roller member, the second roller, the fourth roller member, the third roller, and the first roller element to secure to and roll on the take-up assembly.
 4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the cord has a first end attached to a top of the arm and a second end passing through the second and third roller elements to attach to a first end of the connection member.
 5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein the flywheel is either an electromagnetic flywheel or a damping flywheel.
 6. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein the take-up assembly includes a housing, a hollow projection integrally formed with one side of the housing, a volute spring in the housing, a bearing in the hollow projection and operatively attached to the flywheel, and an axle in the housing and passing into the bearing.
 7. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein the seat tube is upwardly inclined from its front end, and wherein the leg is pivotably and downwardly declined from its front end.
 8. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein the tunnel assembly includes two spaced tunnel members with the pivotal portion pivotably passing through the tunnel members. 